Animated display device



Feb. 6, 1951 J. P. ARCHEY, JR

ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1951 J. P. ARcHEY, JR

ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 INVENToR Jassf E/Pc//EyJ/a -MTHFF ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1951 ANIMATED DSPLAY DEVICE Jesse ll. Archey, Jr., Floral Park, N. Y., assignor to Car Cards, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,340 (c1. 411-32) 8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to the eld of display devices. In particular, ythe present invention relates to animated ldisplay devices of the type wherein an elongated endless band or tape, with display material thereon, is moved past a window through which the display material can be seen.

In devices of this general type, an elongated endless band or tape is utilized in order to provide an increased amount of display material. The eXtra length, however, creates a problem in the handling, storing and movement thereof to and from the viewing position. in these devices, the desiderata is the smooth, even and uninterrupted movement of the tape across the viewing window, for this reason, and others, the moving mechanism is usually disposed at the eXit end of the window` Normally, a single motive mechanism is provided for the tape. Two drive mechanisms create an additional problem of synchronization, etc. The most important problem in display devices of this type is created by the bunching or gathering of the slack portion of the endless tape immediately after passage past the viewing window, and it is the solution of this particular problem to which the present invention is directed. Y

It is to be understood that in devices of the general type with which this invention is concerned, there is provided a casing having a viewing window in the front thereof, band or tape driving means at the exit side of the Window, and a storage chamber in the rear where the slack of the tape is disposed after passage across the viewing window and prior to its movement toward the viewing window.

A broad general object of the present invention is the provision in a device of the character described of means to insure smooth, even and continuous movement of the tape past the Viewing window.

The main specific object of the present invention is the provision of a mechanism, in a device of the character described, to shift a portion of the slack in the endless belt towards the entrance to the viewing window periodically and in timed relation to the tape movement, in order to prevent the formation of a drag on the tape or band driving mechanism, and in order to prevent any crowding of the tape storage space.

Another object of the present invention is the i provision, in a device of the character described,

of means to move the tape or band continuously, associated with means operable from the same motive source to shift a portion of the stack of 2 slack away from the entrance to the storage chamber towards the eXit from the storage chamber.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision, in a device of the character described, of a platform within the tape storage chamber, which platform is laterally reciprocable to shift a portion of the tape slack away from the tape moving means and towards the View- A ing window.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision, in a device of the character described, of a tape supporting platform which is laterally and reciprocably raisable and shiftable to lift a portion of the tape slack and shift same away from the driving mechanism and towards the viewing window.

Other and further objects of the invention will in part be obvious, and still others will be specically pointed out in connection with the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

FigureA 1 is a top plan View of one form of device constructed according to and embodying the present invention, with the casing cover removed, and illustrating the tape in position in the device;

Figure 2 is a similar View but with the tape removed, and with portions of the inner oor of the casingbroken away;

Figure 3 is a front elevational View of the device, with the front wall of the casing removed to illustrate details of the tape and platform actuating mechanism, partly in section;

Figure 4 is a plan View, partly in section, of the platform lifting and shifting mechanism; Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational View, seen from the rear, of the platform lifting and shifting mechanism in retracted position;

Figure 6 is a front elevational View of the encased assembly as a unit; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 'l-l of Figure 1. Y The device of my invention is indicated by reference numeral Eil and comprises a generally frectangular casing l2, having a rea-r wall lil, ,front Wall l5, end walls it, l5, cover l and oor 2E. Casing l2 may bepformed of thin section metal, wood, plywood or similar material as desired of sufficient strength and rigidity to support the operating elements to be described hereinbelow. Front wall l5 isapertured to provide lengthwise across the face of the casing. A sheet 24 of glass or the like may be mounted in front of window 22, as desired, and a second sheet 25 of glass or the like may be mounted behind the window, spaced from sheet 24. Immediately behind window 22, I may mount a source of illumination as an eiongated iiuorescent tube 2E.

It is to be understood that a series of individual electric light bulbs may be disposed within casing l0, behind window 22, extending across the width thereof, it being desired to provide uniform distribution of illumination across 'the windows with. It is to be further understood that within the scope of the present invention, the tape or band may be perforated so as to permit light to shine therethrough; that the tape may be tra-nslucent with opaque display material thereon; or that the tape may be opaque with phosphorescent or otherwise glowing display material on the face thereof. In the latter case, no light as 26 need be provided.

An inner oor plate 32 is provided, spaced upwardly of casing oor 20, dividing the casing horizontally and lengthwise into an upper chamber 3| and a lower chamber 2| (see Figure 3). A tape passageway or trackway 28 is provided between sheets 24, 25, of such width as to permit the tape to pass freely therebetween. As seen in Figures l, 2 and 3, a pair of vertically extending idler guide rollers 33, 30 are mounted atop inner I floor 32, adjacent the entrance and exit ends of passageway 28, at the front of chamber 3|. A pair of idler guide rollers 33, 34 are disposed atop door 32 at the rear of chamber 3| in line with the idler guide roller 30 adjacent the entrance to passageway 28. The shaft on which roller 33 is mounted is xedly secured to floor 32, while roller 34 is mounted on a swinging bracket Yarm 36 which is normally urged by spring 38 into engagement with roller 33.

At the tape exit side of chamber 32, I dispose a motor '50 having a rotating shaft 52 extending vertically downward through floor 32 into the lower chamber 2|, shaft 52 having a spiral worm gear 54 at the end thereofc in mesh with a gear wheel 56 at one end of a short horizontally disposed drive shaft 58, the other end yof which shaft 58 has a vertically arranged miter gear 62 I which is in mesh with a horizontally arranged miter gear 64 on a drive roll shaft 66 which extends upward into chamber 32 and has vertically arranged drive roller` BS mounted thereabout, the direction of rotation of roller B8 being clockwise (see Figure l.) As will be readily understood, the rate of rotation of shaft |50 can be varied by the gear ratios between gear wheel 56 and spiral worm gear 54.

An endless throat belt l0 is threaded about drive roller 68 and an idler roller 12 disposed vertically inwardly of the upper chamber. A second endless throat belt Hl` is wound about a ixed idler roller 'l5 and an idler roller 'I8 which is mounted on a bracket arm 80 and urged by spring 82 against drive roller 08. It is to be noted that idlers i2 and 'l0 are in alignment, and define the inner end of the storage area l87| for the tape or ribbon slack. A pair of aligned idler rollers l1, 'i3 are provided to serve as a stop, which rollers l1, 'i9 are spaced inwardly of rollers 33, 34, to define the outer end of the storage area 3|. The storage area between idlers 12, 16 on one side and idlers '11, 19 on the other, is rectangular in outline.

The elongated endless belt, or tape bearing the advertising display material thereon is indicated by reference numeral |00, and may be formed of cloth, paper, plastic or the like. As seen in Figure 1, tape |00 is preferably folded or pleated, as indicated at |02, |04, each pleat being made in the opposite direction to the preceding pleat. Thus, as tape T is pulled out of the exit end of track 28, around roller 33, and urged through throat belts 10, '|4, towards the interior of the storage chamber 8|, the successive folds |02, |04, will cause the tape to arrange itself as seen in Figure 1, with the tape folds lying fiatly against each other. The distance between folds |02, |04, etc, must of necessity be less than the width of chamber 8| from front to back thereof.

As v'seen best in Figure 1, 2 and 3, chamber 8| is defined by idlers l2, 76 and l1, 79, by floor 32, and cover i8. Floor 32 within chamber 8| is centrally apertured lengthwise thereof, as at |0, leaving rail supports H2, ||2 at the front and back thereof. A platform l|4 is provided, with means to reciprocably shift same to be detailed below.

As tape |00 is drawn across window 22, and urged into storage chamber 8|, the successive folds build up in number and gradually start exerting a. rearward pressure against the throat belts 10, '14 which causes jamming. A forward pressure would `be desir-able to relieve any tension on tape T at the exit end from chamber 8|, past the stop rollers li', i3, through idlers 33, 34 and around guide roller 30. However, once tape T is moved forwardly past drive roller 68 and into storage chamber 3|, the only active force on it comes from drive 33 around the circuit through idlers 30, 30, thence 33, 34, past idlers 11, 19 and back along the entire length of tape. Inertia is built up at the rear of the stack which puts a sizeable amount of tension on the tape and results in jerky, uneven movement of the tape out of the storage area. It is the relief of this tension that is accomplished by my shiftable platform |4.

Platform |4 is supported at both ends thereof. At the delivery end of chamber 3|, platform ||4 is provided with a pair of downwardly and forwardly extending arms |20, |20 at each side thereof, which arms are pivotally secured to a sliding block |22, which rides on slide rods |24, |24 threaded horizontally through block |22, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. At the opposite end of platform ||4, adjacent the entrance to chamber 8|, platform ||4 is provided with a downwardly extended arm |26 to which one end -of a con- -necting rod |28 is pivotally secured.

The other end |30 of connecting rod |28 is pivotally held, by a pin |32, to an end of a crank rod |34, the -other end of which crank |34 is fixed on ashaft |38 for rotation therewith. Shaft |33 extends transversely and horizontally through a support bearing block |35 between base 20 and oor 32. A take-off worm gear |40 -is mounted on shaft |38, on the other side of block |35, for rotation with shaft |33., gear '|40 meshing with drive worm gea-r |42 on the lower reach of drive shaft 63.

Thus, as shaft 33 and gear |42 are rotated on their vertical axis, through take-off worm gear |40 this is translated to rotation vof horizontally disposed shaft |38, and connecting rod crank |34 into back and forth reciprocating movement of rod |28 vand of platform H4 along with it, see Figures 4 and 5.

Referring now to Figure 3, a cam segment |50 is fixed -on shaft |38 for rotation therewith, bearing `against a cam follower roller l|52 mounted at the angle of a right angled lever |54. The

laefiofiee shorter arm i156 of lever-,|54 extends upwardly and the end thereof is fixed onto one end of a shaft 58 mounted transversely through block |36, which shaft has xed onto its other end an arm lei. The longer arm ft2 of lever lt eX- tends forwardly and has a lift arm roller i645 mounted at its terminal, and the terminal of arm ll similarly has a lift vroller |55 mounted thereon, on the sameV horizontal level as lift roller iSd.

As shaft E32 is rotated, cam segmentv `itlbears against and raisescam follower roller E52, causing a pivoting of lever tt and rotation of shaft S, and along with it arms li, ft2, and along with them rollers i'i, it, thereby raising platform lill to the dotted line position of Figure 3, at which time, the forward shift is imparted to platform Si@ by crank rod E28. Thus, platform lit is caused to shift upwardly and then forwardly. Platform llt, at the end thereof adjacent the entrance to storage chamber 8l, is provided with an upstanding lip its. As it is raised to the dotted line position, lip 68 passes between the folds of the stacked tape, and in its forward movement carries the stack away from the entrance to chamber tl towards the delivery end.

With this mechanism, while the tape is being moved continuously past the viewing window, the tape slack in the storage area 8! is intermittently shifted towards the exit end thereof. This movement accomplishes two results. First, it eliminates all back pressure on the driving mechanism throat belts and prevents jamming or crowding therebetween. Second, it eliminates any undue load on the tape moving means at rollers 33, 3ft, guides 3S, Sii, etc. and insures smooth,Y even, uninterrupted movement of the tape across the viewing window. The use of throat belts it, lli in combination with the pleated tape, insures the proper stacking of the tape in folds in the storage area since the tape wiil swing against one or the other of belts lli, 'Fd according to the direction of the fold lines, and be carried thereby past one or the other of rollers lo, T2.

Ordinarily, the stacked tape slack will rest on rails H2, H2, but the rearward portion of the stack will be engaged intermittently by platform Hd and lip it, and shifted towards the exit from chamber Bl; It is to be noted that the upward extension of lip 68 renders rit unnecessary to lift platform Hd appreciably above the level of floor 32.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of 4the character described including a vertically arranged viewing window, a horizontally extending support behind the window, a part of which support comprises a reciprocably shiftable platform, means to reciprocably shift said platform, an elongated endless strip having a plurality of transverse pleat lines uniformly spaced apart and successively in opposite directions whereby a portion of the strip remote from the viewing window may be folded on itself with the folds lying flatly against one another, and stacked atop the support means for continuously drawing said strip past the viewing window including a pair of cooperating rollers adjacent one end of the window, said means continuously folding the strip on itself past the rollers, and stacking same atop the support, movement of the horizontally reciprocable platform shifting a portion of the stack intermittently away from'the said one end of the support towards the other end,

2.` In a device of the character described including a vertically arranged Viewing window, a horizontally extending support behind the window, a part of which support comprises a reciprocably shiftable platform, means to reciprocablyshift said platform, an elongated endless strip having a plurality of transverse pleat lines uniformly spaced apart and successively in lopposite directions whereby a portion of the strip remote from the viewing window may be folded on itself. with the folds lying fiatly against one another and stacked atop the support, continuously operative motor means for continuously drawing said strip past the viewing window including a pair of cooperating rollers adjacent one end of the window, saidmeans continuously folding the strip on itself past the rollers, and stacking same atop the support, shifting of the horizontally reciprocable intermittently operative platform moving a portion of the stack intermittently away from the said one end of the support towards the other end.

3. In a device of the character described including a vertically arranged viewing window, a horizontally extending support behind the window, a part of which support comprises a reciprocably shiftable platform, motor means to reciprocably shift said platform, an elongated endless strip having a plurality of transverse fold lines spaced uniformly therealong, successive fold lines being in opposite directions whereby a portion of the strip may be folded onitself in zig-zag manner, motor means for drawing a portion of said strip past said viewing window, said means including a pair of cooperating rollers adjacent one end of said viewing window, said rollers cooperating in folding the viewed portion of -the strip and stacking same upon the support, the horizontally reciprocating platform operating intermittently in response to its motor control to shift a portion of the stack from the one end of the support towards the opposite end thereof.

4. A device as in claim 3, in which the platform shifting means raise the platform above the level of the support in the advancing phase of its movement, and depress the platform below. the level of the support during the return phase of its movement.

5. A device as in claim 3 in which the horizontally reciprocating platform is motor shifted intermittently while the rollers operate continuously.

6. A device as in claim 3 in which the horizontally reciprocating platform operates is motor shifted intermittently and is raised above the level of the support during the stack shifting phase of its movement.

7. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a viewing window therein, an elongated endless strip of material disposed within the casing, a portion of which strip is viewable through the window, a storage chamber within the casing and behind the window, the chamber including a strip supporting floor a portion of which floor comprises a platform which is horizontally and reciprocably shiftable lengthwise of the chamber, continuously operable motorY means to move the tape past the viewing window and into the storage chamber, and atop the support, and means associated with the motor intermittently operable to reciprocably shift the platform portion of the support to move the tape within the chamber from the entrance end thereinto towards the opposite end thereof.

8. A display device comprising a casing having gemme .7 a viewing Window in the Yfrom; thereof, and a storage chamber in the `rear thereof, `an endless, eionga-ted strip of material having Vdisplay i-ndioia thereon Vfor viewing through the Window, motor mea-ns under the casing for moving one vportion of the strip across lthe viewing Window l'from one end thereof to ythe other While disposing the remainder of the strip in the storage chamber zig-'zag arrangement, a oor Within the casing for supporting -the tape inside the storage rchamber, Ia portion of which oor is reciprocably zshi-fitabie lengthwise of 'the chamber for moving the strip portion thereW-ithin from one en'd o'f the ohamber to the other adjacent the entrance Vto the viewing Window, and means yassociated with the motor t0 reciprocably shift the oor portion.

' JESSE P. ARCHEY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references 'are of record in the .le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,729,323 Barker Sept. 24, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS .Number Name Date 693,695 France Sept. 1, V1930 

